title: Comparing the characteristics of snowboarders injured in a terrain park who present to the ski patrol, the emergency department or both.
abstract: Ski patrol report forms are a common data source in ski/snowboard research, but it is unclear if those who only present to the emergency department (ED) are systematically different from those who see the ski patrol. To determine the proportion and characteristics of injured snowboarders who bypass the ski patrol before presenting to the ED, three groups of injured snowboarders were compared: presented to the ED only, ski patrol only and ski patrol and ED. Data were collected from ski patrol Accident Report Forms (ARFs), ED medical records and telephone interviews. There were 333 injured snowboarders (ED only: 34, ski patrol only: 107, both: 192). Ability, time of day, snow conditions or drugs/alcohol predicted ED only presentation. Concussions (RRR: 4.66; 95% CI: 1.83, 11.90), sprains/strains (RRR: 4.22; 95% CI: 1.87, 9.49), head/neck (RRR: 2.90; 95% CI: 1.48, 5.78), trunk (RRR: 4.17; 95% CI: 1.92, 9.09) or lower extremity (RRR: 3.65; 95% CI: 1.32, 10.07) injuries were significantly more likely to present to ski patrol only versus ski patrol and ED. In conclusion, snowboarders who presented to the ED only had similar injuries as those who presented to both.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics and Child Health , University of Manitoba , 656-715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg , MB R3E 3P4 , Canada.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meeuwisse
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nettel-Aguirre
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wishart
authors.forename: Nicole T R
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Romanow
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: Brent E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hagel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012865:Skiing / Q000293:injuries*
keywords: data quality; injury; snowboard